Part and Wade set up tasty QF as Hurricane blows Nicholson away

PDC big guns James Wade and John Part set up a tasty quarter-final clash at the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship with on Thursday afternoon as World number three Wade picked up his second successive 4-0 victory in the £1 million tournament with a straight sets win over Steve Farmer which took the left-hander just 45 minutes to complete.

Wade dropped only one leg in taking the first two sets, and came from 2-0 down in each of the next two as he moved into the last eight for the fourth time in five years at Alexandra Palace.

"It wasn't as easy as the scoreline suggests," said Wade. "I made the most of my opportunities, and he gave me plenty.

"I'm looking forward to the next game against John because it will be a scrap, and I haven't had one of those yet. I believe I'm ready for one and let's see what I do, and I think I've got plenty in the tank."

Part, meanwhile, joined Wade in the quarter-finals with a 4-2 defeat of in-form Kevin Painter, who took the game's first set but fell 2-1 down as the Canadian hit a 161 finish in taking command.

Painter levelled by winning the fourth, but Part crucially finished 104 to take the next before edging the sixth to take victory on double ten.

"That was a very hard match for me and I'm pleased to win," said Part. "Kevin and I have a lot of history in the World Championship and we have a great deal of respect for each other.

"We were pretty tight in that match and it was a traditional game of darts which I enjoyed playing in. I could have made life easier for myself but I got on with the game and had faith in myself.

"I've been down the rankings and haven't had much luck in this tournament since I won it in 2008, so it would be lovely to come through and win again. I've got experience and the other players know I will exploit their mistakes."

Belgium's Kim Huybrechts won through to the quarter-finals with a thrilling 4-1 defeat of number nine seed Paul Nicholson, who won the first set but took only three more legs in the match.

One of those was a 170 finish, but he was unable to stem the tide as Huybrechts - buoyed by a ten-darter - sailed into the last eight with the biggest win of his career.

"I'm on such a high right now, I feel like the happiest man in the world," said Huybrechts, nicknamed 'The Hurricane'.

"If someone had said before the tournament that I would play in the quarter-finals, I wouldn't have believed him, especially when you have Raymond van Barneveld and Paul Nicholson in your part of the draw.

"I'm loving it and, who knows, maybe I can win another match. I felt confident throughout this match and the support from the crowd was a positive from me."

The third round concludes with the final three matches on Thursday evening, with 2010 finalist Simon Whitlock meeting Michael van Gerwen, Dave Chisnall - who knocked out Phil Taylor on Tuesday - playing Andy Hamilton and last year's runner-up Gary Anderson facing Colin Lloyd.

JOHN PART remains on course to win his fourth World Championship title after overcoming Kevin Painter in the last 16 of the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship with tough 4-2 victory.The Canadian, who has previously tasted glory in the 1994 Lakeside Championship and 2003 and 2008 PDC World Championships, came from a set down to end Painter's recent winning run.Part led 2-1 in the early stages but missed a dart at double top in the fourth set to allow Painter to level the match, but he edged the next two sets to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since his 2008 triumph."We were both working really hard out there and it was a tough game to play," said the three-time World Champion, who will now face James Wade for a semi-final place."Kevin and I have a lot of history in the World Championship and we have a great deal of respect for each other. I have beaten him in two semi-finals and that was a good feeling going into this match."The key to the match was that I hit my doubles when I needed to and took out some big shots at vital times, which got me over the finishing line."

Painter started confidently with a 12-dart finish, which included a 180 with his first three darts of the match and a 100 checkout.The second leg saw Painter miss the bullseye for a 170 checkout, and Part stepped in on double eight before securing a break of throw in the next by landing double nine with his first dart.Painter hit a second 180 in the fourth leg to pressure on Part, which he succumbed to as his attempt at double eight fell into double 16, and the Daventry-based thrower took out a two-dart 63 finish to level before landing double 18 in the decider to claim an early advantage.

The three-time World Champion defied a maximum from Painter to hold throw at the start of set two, before Painter took the second leg after Part was guilty of missing five darts at doubles.Both players began the third with 180s, before Painter fired in another to leave an opportunity of recording a nine-dart finish.Painter's attempt at a seventh treble 20 failed to hit the target, and he then missed two darts at double 16, allowing Part to snatch the leg by landing double top with his third dart.Painter hit a 13-dart finish to take the fourth leg, which included his sixth 180 of the game, before Part hit the same double to win the set and level the match.

The Canadian began the third set in superb fashion by recording a fantastic 161 checkout to win the first leg against the darts.Part, who defeated Richie Burnett in the second round, took the second after Painter missed two darts at doubles.Painter hit double 16 to take the third leg before Part pinned the same double in the next to take the set and lead the match for the first time.Part hit an excellent 127 checkout to win the first leg of the fourth set but Painter landed double top to claim the second in 13 darts, and hit the same bed to win the next against the darts.The fourth leg saw Painter miss a dart at double top to win the set, and Part accepted the reprieve to hit double eight and force another decider.Painter missed a dart at the bullseye in the deciding leg, but Part missed a dart at double top to move 3-1 up and the 2004 runner-up hit double eight with his first dart to level the match at two sets apiece.

The Canadian secured a break of throw at the start of set five by hitting double ten after Painter missed double top.Part was off-target with three chances to take the second leg, allowing Painter to level as he landed double eight with an accurate third dart.Painter hit an excellent 121 checkout to break his opponent's throw but Part immediately hit back to take the next by landing double six and showed his class in the decider to record a 104 checkout to win the set and move ahead for the second time.

Part won the first leg of the sixth set - his third in a row - before Painter registered a 126 checkout to take the second.Part moved one leg away from the match by landing double four for a 13-darter, but Painter replied in kind to take the fourth and keep his challenge alive.The deciding leg saw the Canadian hit two 140s to forge ahead, and an accurate attempt at double ten ended the contest."We were pretty tight in that match and it was a traditional game of darts which I enjoyed playing in," added Part. "I could have made life easier for myself but I got on with the game and had faith in myself."I've been down the rankings and haven't had much luck in this tournament since I won it in 2008, so it would be lovely to come through and win again. I've got experience and the other players know I will exploit their mistakes." Painter, who had won his maiden major title at the Cash Converters Players Championship earlier in December, admitted: "I just didn't turn up and if I'd hit my doubles I'd have rubbed him out easily, probably 4-1."I couldn't find the treble 20, and my doubles were just on the wrong side of the wire. I've given legs to John and I think I've given the game away, and you can't do that at this stage of the World Championship - it's a wasted opportunity."

JAMES WADE 4-0 STEVE FARMER(3-0, 3-1, 3-2, 3-2)

JAMES WADE powered in the quarter-finals of the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship with a straight-sets victory over Steve Farmer.

Wade, looking for his first World Championship crown, won the first two sets, dropping just one leg to his opponent, and establish total command. Farmer missed one dart to claim both the third and fourth sets, allowing Wade secure a comfortable win and set up a mouth-watering clash against John Part.

"It wasn't as easy as the scoreline suggests," said Wade, whose best performance in this tournament is a semi-final appearance back in 2009. "I feel fine and I'll just keep playing the way I have been. I've only lost one set in three matches so far, so I must be doing something right!

"I'm looking forward to playing John on Friday. We had an epic quarter-final here back in 2008, which he won. I would like to get one back over him this time around."

Wade, the number three seed for this year's event, hit double five to take the first leg of the game and defied a maximum from Farmer to win the second on double top for a 13-darter.

Wade, who defeated Jelle Klaasen in straight sets in the second round, fired a 180 of his own in the third leg and won the set by landing double ten with his first dart to establish an early advantage.

Farmer won his first leg of the game at the start of the set two, before Wade hit double nine to take the second and then secured the third by taking out 70 in two darts.

The fourth leg saw Farmer off-target with a dart at double top for a 107 finish, and Wade hit double ten again to take the set and lead 2-0.

Farmer, who defeated Kevin Munch to reach this stage, capitalised on missed doubles from Wade to take the opening leg of the third set with double 12 for a 13-darter.

The Shropshire ace then hit double eight to win the second against the darts, before Wade took the third by landing double top.

Farmer missed a dart at double 18 to win the set in the next leg, which proved crucial as the reigning UK Open champion hit tops and then landed double two with his final dart in the fifth leg to move three sets clear.

Farmer, making his second appearance at Alexandra Palace, held throw at the start of the fourth set and then broke throw after Wade was guilty of missing eight darts at doubles.

Wade hit back from that disappointment to take the third leg with a 14-dart finish and then won the fourth in 12 to move a leg away from victory.

The fifth leg saw Farmer miss a dart at the bullseye for a 132 checkout, and Wade hit a clinical 116 finish to seal a last eight spot.

KIM HUYBRECHTS 4-1 PAUL NICHOLSON(1-3, 3-1, 3-0, 3-1, 3-1)

KIM HUYBRECHTS secured a famous victory over Paul Nicholson with a 4-1 triumph as he reached the quarter-finals of his debut Ladbrokes World Darts Championship.

Nicholson, the number nine seed, made an excellent start to the match as he won four of the first five legs to take the early advantage.

However, Huybrechts - inspired by a brilliant ten-darter in the second set - put together a fantastic run by winning 12 of the next 14 legs to win the next four sets and dump Nicholson out of the event.

The 26-year-old, who only became a full-time professional this summer when he qualified for the European Championship, becomes the first Belgian to reach the quarter-finals of a PDC World Championship in his first appearance at Alexandra Palace.

"I'm on such a high right now, I feel like the happiest man in the world," said a delighted Huybrechts, who will now face either Dave Chisnall or Andy Hamilton in the quarter-finals."The crowd were really behind me today, and the energy they gave me was a real driving force throughout the match."

Nicholson hit double 16 at the first time of asking to take the opening leg before Huybrechts took the second with an excellent 110 finish.

Nicholson, who defeated Alan Tabern in the second round, bettered that with a 112 checkout to take the third leg, and then landed double four with his third dart to win the set, after Huybrechts missed two darts at double 16.

The ninth seed continued his good finishing form at the start of the second set with a 74 finish, before Huybrechts hit back-to-back 180s to open the next leg.

His hopes of a nine-darter were ended when the seventh attempt at a treble 20 fell below the target, but the Belgian won the leg in ten darts to level the set.

The third leg saw both players struggle to find a winning double, before Huybrechts made Nicholson pay for nine misses by hitting double two.Huybrechts, who has defeated Brendan Dolan and James Richardson to reach this stage, then won the set by taking out 69 in the fourth leg as he levelled the match.

Huybrechts hit a 13-dart finish to make a positive start to set three and then won his fifth successive leg by landing double 14 with his third dart.

The third leg saw Huybrechts secure a second break of throw in the set, as he took out 67 on double top to move 2-1 up.Huybrechts made a good start to set four by taking a seventh straight leg with a 14-dart finish before Nicholson stopped the rot with an amazing 170 checkout to level.

The Belgian hit a 180 to reply at the start of the third leg as he edged 2-1 up before landing another maximum in the next to set up a chance to take the set.

After Nicholson missed double five for a 130 checkout, Huybrechts wasted two opportunities at double 16 but was given a reprieve when his opponent missed the single one when needing five, and he returned to land double eight for the set.

Nicholson hit double top to claim the opening leg of set five in 13 darts before Huybrechts took the second with a clinical 94 finish for a 12-dart leg.The third leg saw Nicholson miss a dart at the bullseye for his second 170 checkout of the game, and he paid for five more missed darts to win the leg as Huybrechts took out 80 to move a leg away from victory.The Belgian missed a dart at double 16 to close out the match, but Nicholson failed with two darts to keep the game alive, and Huybrechts held his nerve to land double eight with his third dart and claim the win.

"If someone had said before the tournament that I would play in the quarter-finals, I wouldn't have believed him, especially when you have Raymond van Barneveld and Paul Nicholson in your part of the draw," he added. "I'm loving it and, who knows, maybe I can win another match. I felt confident throughout this match and the support from the crowd was a positive from me."

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